Vendor website gui for marketing greeting cards and envelopes

ABSTRACT

A processor-based system stores different card templates in a database. Each card template has a card feature that can have any color from among a first set of colors. The system also stores, in the database, for each stored card templates, a corresponding envelope template. Each envelope template has an envelope feature that can have any color from among a second set of colors. The system receives a user selection of a card template from among the card templates and a user selection of a color to be applied to the card feature. The system displays the card template, with the card feature having the user-selected color. The system also displays the corresponding envelope template that corresponds, in the database, to the selected card template. The envelope feature is displayed with the user-selected color based on the user-selected color having been selected for the card feature.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/596,417,filed on Jan. 14, 2015, which claims priority from U.S. ProvisionalApplication No. 62/089,569, filed Dec. 9, 2014, both of which areincorporated herein by reference.

TECHNICAL FIELD

This relates to a computer-based graphical user interface (GUI) formarketing greeting cards and attendant envelopes to a customer on awebsite and enabling the customer to select and customize the greetingcards and envelopes.

BACKGROUND

A website of a greeting card vendor provides a graphical user interface(GUI) for marketing greeting cards. A customer uses the GUI to upload aphotograph and select a greeting card template. The website combines thephotograph with the template to yield a customized greeting card thatthe customer can purchase. The customer also uploads recipientaddresses, selects a card template, selects an envelope template, andselects a font for printing the addresses on the envelope template. Theuser submits an online request to purchase envelopes that match theselected envelope template and that are imprinted with the uploadedaddresses in the user-selected font. Before printing the purchasedenvelopes, the GUI displays a computer-generated preview of eachenvelope that will be printed, with each preview showing the respectiveenvelope with a respective one of the uploaded addresses. Each addressappears on the previewed envelope as the address will appear on theactual printed envelope.

SUMMARY

A processor-based system stores different card templates in a database.Each card template has a card feature that can have any color from amonga first set of colors. The system also stores, in the database, for eachstored card templates, a corresponding envelope template. Each envelopetemplate has an envelope feature that can have any color from among asecond set of colors. The system receives a user selection of a cardtemplate from among the card templates and a user selection of a colorto be applied to the card feature. The system displays the cardtemplate, with the card feature having the user-selected color. Thesystem also displays the corresponding envelope template thatcorresponds, in the database, to the selected card template. Theenvelope feature is displayed with the user-selected color based on theuser-selected color having been selected for the card feature. Thesystem then receives a user selection to purchase cards and envelopesthat respectively match the selected card template and the selectedenvelope template.

In different examples, the system receives a user-provided recipientname and a corresponding user-provided recipient address. The displayingof the corresponding envelope template includes displaying, on thecorresponding envelope template, an address block that includes theuser-provided recipient name and the user-provided recipient address.

In different examples, the envelope feature is the displayed recipientname. The recipient address can be displayed on the envelope templatewith a color that is different than the color that is applied to thedisplayed recipient name. The card feature can be a background color andthe envelope feature can be an address preface. The recipient name canbe displayed with a font style that is different than a font style withwhich the recipient address is displayed. A calligraphic flourishprojects from one letter of the displayed recipient name and extendshorizontally beyond another letter of the displayed recipient name. Thedisplayed envelope template includes non-text ornamentation. The systemprints, on an envelope, both the address block and the non-textornamentation in one printing step.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an example system for providing a GUI forcustomizing and selecting greeting cards and envelopes.

FIG. 2 is a flow chart of a method implemented by the system forimplementing the GUI.

FIG. 3 shows an example card and a corresponding envelope, that aredisplayed by the GUI.

FIG. 4 is a screenshot of an example Image Designation Screen of theGUI, with which a user designates images (e.g., photos) to be insertedin the greeting card templates.

FIG. 5 is a screenshot of an example Address-Entry Screen of the GUI,with which the user enters addresses of intended recipients of aselected card.

FIG. 6 is a screenshot of an example Criteria Designation Screen, withwhich the user designates search criteria for searching the database'scard templates.

FIG. 7 is a screenshot of an example Card Display Screen with which theuser views, selects, manipulates and modifies the card templates.

FIG. 8 is a screenshot of an example Envelope Display Screen with whichthe user views, selects, manipulates and modifies the envelopetemplates.

FIG. 9 is an screenshot of an example Card-Envelope Display Screen, withwhich the user views, selects, manipulates and modifies thehighest-ranking card templates and their matching envelope templates.

FIG. 10 shows a screenshot of an example Addressed-Envelope PreviewScreen 800.

FIG. 11 shows an Order Finalizing Screen with which the user entersinformation for completing the order.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

A graphical user interface (GUI) is used by a user (such as a potentialcustomer), for selecting and customizing greeting cards and envelopes.The GUI displays different greeting cards. The user uses the GUI toselect one of the displayed cards and to customize the selected card.The GUI also displays different envelopes for the user to choose from.The displayed envelopes include an envelope that matches the selectedcard. The user uses the GUI to select one of the displayed envelopes, tocustomize the envelope, and to preview an image of what theselected-and-customized envelope will look like when imprinted withdifferent user-provided addresses.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an example system 100 for implementing theGUI. The system includes a non-transitory hardware server 101 that has aprocessor 102 (which can represent multiple processors workingcooperatively). The processor 102 executes program instructions ofsoftware code. The code is stored on a non-transitory hardwarecomputer-readable data storage medium 103, such as a computer hard drivedevice, to implement the GUI. In this example, the server 101 hosts awebsite, associated with a greeting card vendor (merchant, manufacturer)of the system 100, that provides the GUI. The storage medium 103includes a database 104 that stores images and text provided by theuser. The database 104 also stores design templates for cards andenvelopes, and data relating to each template.

The GUI is provided on a user's computing device 110 (user device).Examples of user devices are a personal computer (PC) and a mobilecommunication device such as a smart phone. Each user device 110 has aprocessor 111 for executing software commands and a non-transitoryhardware processor-readable data storage medium 112 for storing thecommands. Each user device 110 also has a user interface that includes adisplay screen 113 and a user input device 114 for implementing the GUI.The input device 114 may include a mouse, a keypad and a touch-screenfor inputting user entries. The user device 110 may communicate with theserver 101 through a communication network such as the Internet 120.

Some or all of the software code for implementing the GUI may be storedin and executed by the server 101. The remainder of the software codefor implementing the GUI may be stored in and executed by the userdevice 110. Alternatively, all of the software code for implementing theGUI may be stored in and executed by the user device 110, such that aserver or network connection is unnecessary.

FIG. 2 is a flow chart of an example method for implementing the GUI.The method steps are explained below.

FIG. 3 shows an example card template 300 and its corresponding(matching) envelope template 310. The card template 300 has thefollowing elements (components, features): A main greeting 301 is a textheading on a card's front face, indicating the primary subject orpurpose of the card. A personal message 302 is text (sentence or phrase)following the greeting, which is typically user-selected. An image set303 (one or more images 303A, 303B) is initially provided by the serverand later substituted with images provided (uploaded) by the user. Anon-text ornamentation 305 is exemplified by images of a candy cane305A, gingerbread cookie 305B, candle 305C and flame 305D). Each cardfeature—including the card elements 301, 302, 303, 305 and the card'sbackground—might have (be render with) any color from among a predefinedset of colors.

The corresponding envelope 310 has the following elements (components,features). An address block 311 comprises a recipient name 312 (e.g.,“Mr. and Mrs. Johnson”) and a recipient address 313 (e.g., streetaddress with city). A textual address preface 314 (e.g., “Deliver to”)prefaces (introduces) the address. A non-text ornamentation 315 isexemplified by images of a candy cane 315A and gingerbread cookie 315B).Each envelope feature—including the envelope elements 312, 313, 314, 315and the envelope's background—might have (be render with) any color fromamong a predefined set of colors.

In this example, the envelope 310 matches (corresponds to, is wellsuited for) the card 300 in several ways, as follows: The envelope 310uses fonts that match those in the card 300. For example, the envelope'srecipient name 312 has the same font as the card's greeting 301. Theenvelope's address preface 314 has the same font as a first font (in“Seasons Greetings from”) in the card's message 302. The envelope'srecipient address 312 has the same font as a second font (in “The SmithFamily”) in the card's message 302. The envelope's ornamental images315A, 315B (candy and cookie) match ornamental images 305A, 305B in thecard 300. The envelope 310 may have colors that match colors in the card300. For example, the card's background color may be used for the name312 or background of the envelope 310.

A postage stamp 316 is affixed to the envelope 310. In this example, thestamp 316 matches the card 300 and the envelope 310, in that the stamp316 includes two ornamental images (candy and cookie) that are found inboth the card 300 and the envelope 310.

Due to the above common features between the card 300, the envelope 310and the stamp 316, all three items are associated with each other in thedatabase 104. When designing the card template and envelope template,the designer might first design the card, and then design the envelopeto match the card, and then select the stamp from among availablepostage stamps to match the envelope. The designer might alternativelyperform this process in reverse order as follows: Each time a newpostage stamp is issued by the post office, the designer might design anenvelope to match the new stamp and then design a card to match theenvelope.

For each card template 300, the data stored in the database 104 includesdifferent stock features, where “stock” indicates not uploaded by theuser. The stock features include stock text for the greeting 301, stocktext for the message 302, one or more stock images for the image set303, and different stock colors to use for the greeting, the message andthe background.

For each envelope template 310, the data stored in the database 104includes a name font for printing the name 312 on the envelope 310 andan address font for printing the address 313 on the envelope 310. Thename font and address font may be standard fonts (e.g., Times or Arial)that are commonly available and not custom created (designed) for theparticular envelope template. Alternatively, the name font and/or theaddress font may have been custom created and designated, by thedesigner of the envelope template, specifically for the respectiveenvelope template. The name font and/or the address font might be ornateand calligraphic. The font and color of the name 312 may differ from thefont and color of the address 313. For example, in the address block 311in FIG. 3, the address font is a standard print style (e.g., Arial),whereas the name font is ornate and calligraphic with a letter flourish317 (swooping line) projecting from one letter and extending under (butalternatively can extend over or through) one or more neighboringletters as though hand-crafted so that name becomes an ornamental designelement.

For each envelope template 310, the data stored in the database 104might specify the address preface 314. The address preface data mightspecify how each letter (character) of the preface text should berendered and any image that accompanies (e.g., frames) the text. Theaddress preface data might include one set of data specifying each textletter and a second set of data specifying a font for rendering the textletters. Or the address preface data might be in bitmap format, to beprocessed and printed as a picture.

For each envelope template 310, the data stored in the database 104might include the stock image or images for the ornamental image set315. The data might further include, for each envelope template 310, acolor for each printed envelope element (name, address, preface,non-text ornamentation) and the envelope's background. The backgroundcolor might be the color of the paper stock that the envelope was formedfrom.

For each envelope template 310, the data stored in the database 104might include designations of dimensions (e.g., in inches) and one ormore mood traits (e.g., warm, consoling, serene, funny, happy, sad,thoughtful, formal, informal, classical, modern, nature, western, cute,wildlife, childish).

The data might also include, for each envelope template and/or each cardtemplate, a postage stamp identifier that specifies a postage stamp(e.g., stamp 316 in FIG. 3), such as a paper-based adhesive-bearingpostage stamp, that corresponds to (matches) the respective template.

The data might also include, for each card template and/or each envelopetemplate, historical statistical popularity metrics regarding how often(how many times) the template was selected for purchase and/or selectedfor previewing. A metric for a card or envelope template might be apopularity ranking that ranks the template based on how often (how manytimes) the template was selected for purchase and/or selected forpreviewing. The “selected” criteria might be limited to selected forsale, or might include selected for preview. The metric might be interms of a ranking (e.g., an envelope's percentile ranking relative toall envelopes) or in terms of how often an envelope was selected. Somepopularity metrics for a given envelope might be measured relative toall envelope sales. Other popularity metrics for each envelope might becategory-specific, in that the metric is relative to envelopes that arein a same category as the respective envelope, where “same category”might mean having same dimensions or same mood trait. Other popularitymetrics for envelopes might be card-specific, by indicating how ofteneach envelope was selected for use with a particular card. This mightyield a surprising finding that, for use with a particular card, acertain envelope that was not designed for that card is selected byusers more often than the envelope that was designed for that card.

FIG. 4 shows an example Image Designation Screen 400 (window) of theGUI, with which a user designates images (e.g., photos) to be insertedin the greeting card templates (step 201 in FIG. 2). Clicking on a“Browse Personal Directory” icon 401 in the screen 400 accesses theuser's computer directory, from which the user may select one or moreimages to upload (provide) to the website server 101. Clicking on a“Browse Stock Images” icon 402 causes the GUI to display a variety ofstock images (e.g., photos) that are stored in the server's database104, from which the user may select one or more stock images. Clickingon an external-website link 403 opens another website that has images,such as a website that holds the user's personal photographs, for theuser to import images from the other website into the screen 400.Similarly, the other website may have a link to the Image DesignationScreen 400 to export images from the other website to the ImageDesignation Screen 400. Clicking on an image application link 404 opensan image-containing and image-generating application on the user's owndevice, from which images can be imported. The user may alsocopy-and-paste images into the screen 400 from other websites or fromother applications on the user device. The user may also drag-and-dropimages into the screen 400 from other websites or other applications.

The images 420 that are imported into the Image Designation Screen 400(in the various ways described above) together comprise“user-designated” images. The user may drag the user-designated images420 to distribute them into one or more image set boxes 411, 412, 413 inthe screen 400. In this example, the first image set box 411 contains afirst image set 421, the second image set box 412 contains a secondimage set 422, and the third image set box 413 has not yet received anyimages from the user. In each designated image box 411, 412, 413, theuser may also delete images, duplicate images, rearrange their order,and drag 405 them to another image set box.

FIG. 5 shows an example Address-Entry Screen 500 of the GUI, with whicha user enters addresses of intended recipients of the card (step 202 inFIG. 2). Clicking on an “Upload Recipient-Address File” icon 501 opens afile directory browser window (not shown), from which the user selects afile (e.g., Word file or Excel file) that includes contact informationfor each intended recipient (contact, addressee). The selected filemight be an address book file on the user device. The address file isuploaded, and the contact information is displayed on an Address Entrieswindow 503. This window 503 displays an address entry 504 (recipiententry) for each recipient. The user can add, delete, edit (revise) andreorder (rearrange) the address entries in the Address Entries window503.

Each uploaded (user-provided) address entry 504 (recipient entry)includes one or more alternative names 505 for the recipient, followedby the recipient's address 506 (e.g., including street, city and state).Alternative names 505 for the same address entry 504 might differ fromeach other in terms of formality and mood. For example, one addressentry 504 (for a single recipient with a single street address) mightinclude a formal name “Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Smith” and an informal name“Joe and Jen Smith” and family name “The Smith Family”, with all threenames listed on three consecutive lines and followed by the singlestreet address 506.

FIG. 6 shows an example Criteria Designation Screen 600, with which auser designates criteria that the system uses to search (includingranking and filtering) the database's card templates (step 203 in FIG.2). The screen 600 displays virtual buttons 611, 612, 613, each assigneda different category name (Christmas, etc.), to be clicked on to selectthe respective category. Category names can, for example, specify aholiday (e.g., Christmas), life event (e.g., birthday), design style(e.g., classical or modern), mood (e.g., funny, thoughtful), text font,card color, card-structure (e.g., single-fold, foil laminated) or carddimensions (height and width).

The Criteria Designation Screen 600 may include a dropdownfeature-selection menu 621 displaying a list of card features (e.g.,greeting, dimensions, color, mood, peripheral shape, number of images,font, structure and style). When the user selects one of the features, a“Select Option” dropdown menu 622 displays a list of category optionsrelating to the selected feature, for the user to choose from. Forexample, selecting the “Greeting” feature might yield the options “MerryChristmas”, “Happy Birthday” and “Type your greeting here”. Selecting a“Message” feature might yield different suggested messages, along with“Type your message here”. Selecting a “Color” feature might yielddifferent suggested colors, or color combinations (e.g., “red & green”)or a non-color term (e.g., “American flag” or “Christmas”) that isassociated with colors for the card to have (such as red, white and bluefor flag, and green and red for Christmas).

The Criteria Designation Screen 600 also displays a “Search String”field 623 for typing a search string. The search string may be, forexample, a server-designated category like the categories listed above.Or the search string may be a term that is not a category, such as agreeting phrase to be compared to the stock greetings. Or the searchstring may be a key word to be compared to key words (such as mood)assigned in the database to each template.

The server 101 (FIG. 1) searches the card templates in its database 104for templates that match the user-designated search criteria by rankingthe templates for closeness of match (step 204 in FIG. 2). The serverthen filters (narrows) the full database of templates down to adisplayable number, in this example four, of card templates that bestmatch the user's criteria.

FIG. 7 shows an example Card Display Screen 700 with which the user canview, select, manipulate and modify the best-matching (highest-ranking)candidate card templates. This screen 700 first displays (step 205 inFIG. 2) the four templates 701 that were found in the search step. Thetemplates 701 are positioned in an array, which in this example has tworows and two columns. Each card template 701 is displayed along with itsstock images, of which there may be zero, one or more stock images.Since each template may be assigned multiple alternative feature options(e.g., different stock greetings, stock messages and stock colors), theserver selects the stock feature for each template that best matches thesearch criteria.

This Card Display Screen 700 includes an Image Selector 730, to beactuated with the input device 114 (FIG. 1) for transforming the imagessets 303 (FIG. 3) in the card templates. In this example, the selector730 includes a virtual slider button 731 that can be grabbed with themouse or finger (if touch screen) and slid along a horizontal virtualtrack 732. The selector 730 has a finite number of button positions thatequals the total number of available image sets (in this case two: 421and 422 in FIG. 4) plus the stock image set that the cards 701 areinitially displayed with. So, in this example, the selector 730 hasthree positions 741, 742, 743. The button 731 is initially in a fullyleft “first” position 741 (“1”) when the image set in each card is therespective stock image set. Movement of the button 731 in a “forward”(rightward) direction to a “second” position 742 (“2”) causes the imagesin each card 701 to undergo a first forward transformation (transition)to the first user-designated image set 421 (FIG. 4). Movement of thebutton 731 further “forward” (rightward) to a “third” position 743 (“3”)causes the images in each card 701 to undergo a second forwardtransformation to the second user-designated image set 422 (FIG. 4). Ifa card 701 has more image spaces to fill than there are user-designatedimages in the respective image set, remaining spaces in the card will beleft blank instead of retaining their stock images.

Movement of the slider button 731 in a reverse (leftward) direction fromthe “3” position to the “2” position causes the second user-designatedimage set 422 in each card 701 to undergo a reverse transformation to bereplaced with the first user-designated image set 421. Further movementof the slider button 731 in the reverse direction to the “1” positioncauses the first user-designated image set 421 in each card 701 to bereplaced by the initial stock images.

Operation of this selector 730 provides user control of thetransformation process, which is amusing to the user and gives the userthe impression of being in control of the design customization.Operation of this selector 730 also helps the user appreciate how wellhis/her designated image set 421 goes with each card 701. It alsofacilitates a comparison of how well a user-designated image 421 goeswith each card 701 relative to the stock image that the card designerconsidered optimal for that card. It also facilitates comparison of howwell one user-designated image set 421 goes with each card 701 relativeto another user-designated image set 422 that the user him/herselfpreviously considered optimal for that card.

While the cards 701 are displayed, the user can apply changes to allcards 701 using a feature-modification section 750 of the screen 700 asfollows: The user can open a dropdown feature-selection window 751displaying a list of features (e.g., greeting, message, font, color).When the user selects one of the features, a feature-options dropdownmenu 752 displays a list of options relating to the selected feature forthe user to choose from. For example, if the user selects the “Greeting”feature, the option list might be “Merry Christmas”, “Thank You”, “HappyBirthday” and “Type your greeting here”. When an option is selected,such as the user typing a greeting in the “Type your greeting here”option, each card's greeting changes to the selected greeting for alldisplayed cards 701 simultaneously. If the user selects the “Color”feature, the option list 752 may be, for example, “Red”, “Green” and“Type a color here”. Or, the GUI may display a color wheel from whichthe user can select a color. The color selection may affect color orcolor tint of background or text or image, in either a user image orstock image for all cards simultaneously. The “Options” menu 752 for the“Color” feature might also include a non-color term (e.g., “Americanflag” or “Christmas”) that is associated with colors for the card tohave (such as red, white and blue for flag, and green and red forChristmas).

The feature modification section 750 may include a color selectorcomprising squares 760 of different colors. Selecting (e.g., clicking ortouching) a square applies that square's color to all displayed cards701.

Before or after image transformations and feature changes have beenperformed, the user may drag the cards 701 to rearrange them on thearray, which changes the positions of the cards 701 in the array. Theuser may also successively delete (eliminate) cards 701 from the arrayuntil one last card is left. And even that one last card may be modifiedby the user using the same image transformations and feature changesexplained above for the initial set and subset.

The user can select a card for purchase from the array of candidatecards by picking (such as by double-clicking) the desired card.Alternatively, the server might consider the last card templateremaining on the display as the user-selected card.

Clicking on a “Search Envelopes” icon 761 prompts the server 101(FIG. 1) to search and rank the envelope templates in its database 102based on different considerations (step 206 in FIG. 2).

One consideration in the envelope search is whether an envelope templateis paired in the database to the selected card.

Another consideration in the envelope search is based on the historicalstatistical data (described above) stored in the database. Someconsiderations might assign higher ranking to envelopes with higherpopularity metrics. Other considerations might assign higher ranking toenvelopes whose mood traits (described above) better match the moodtraits of the selected card template.

Another consideration in the envelope search is based on the uploadedcontact list. For example, the server 101 may determine that one or morename names in the list are too long for optimum fitting in some envelopetemplates because, for example, the name would extend into, or too closeto, ornamentation 315 (FIG. 2) of the envelope. Conversely, the servermay determine that the names in the list tend to be shorter thanexpected for a particular envelope template and would therefore bettersuit an envelope template that leaves less room for addresses and/orlooks best with shorter addresses.

The server 101 might also decipher and analyze the recipient names todetermine a mood (trait, character) implied by the names, and givehigher ranking to envelope templates that more closely match that mood.For example, the server might give a higher ranking to formal envelopedesigns if the address names include formal titles, such as “Mr. andMrs.” and “Dr.”. Conversely, the server might give a higher ranking toinformal envelope designs if the address names tend to omit titles, suchas “Joseph and Elizabeth Smith”. The server might give a higher rankingto very informal envelope designs if the address names tend to includenicknames, such as “Joe and Jen”.

The server might also decipher and analyze the recipients' addresses, todetermine a mood based on geographic region. For example, differentmoods might be assigned to Alaska, Hawaii, Montana, New York and France.The mood that the server derives from the addresses may be compared tothe moods assigned in the database to candidate envelope templates.

The envelope search concludes with ranking the envelopes in the databasebased on various considerations, including the considerations mentionedabove. The server then filters (narrows) the envelope templates down toa displayable number, in this example four, of the highest rankingenvelope templates.

FIG. 8 shows an example Envelope Display Screen 800 with which the usercan view, select, manipulate and modify the highest-ranking envelopetemplates (step 207 in FIG. 2). This screen 800 initially displays thehighest-ranking (best-matching) envelopes 801 that were found in thesearch. The envelopes are positioned on the screen based on ranking,with the highest ranking envelope on the top left, andsuccessively-lower ranking envelopes appearing successively to the rightand/or in lower rows. The highest-ranking envelope template might be theenvelope template that the database indicates corresponds to theselected card template. The GUI might include an indication 802 of whichof the envelopes corresponds to the user-select card. An example of theindication is a text message “Designed to match your card” printed near(under) the matching envelope. The GUI might further include, near(under) each displayed envelope including the matching envelope, a briefexplanation 803 of the envelope template's character trait (e.g.,classical, formal, nature) to help advise the user on where the envelopeis most appropriate. The GUI might further include, near (under) eachdisplayed envelope including the matching envelope, a unique name 804(identifying name) assigned to the template design so that the user canrecord the name and refer to it later. Each envelope is displayed withits features: name 312 and address 313 of the name block 311, addresspreface 314, non-text ornamentation 315 and stamp 316.

In preparation for first displaying each envelope 801 on the displayscreen 800, the colors of the envelope features (name, address, prefaceand non-text ornamentation) may be selected by the server to best matchthe user-selected colors of the user-selected card. For example, therecipient's name 312 on the envelope 801 might be automatically giventhe same color as the greeting 301 (FIG. 3) of the selected card. Theenvelope's background color might match the selected card's backgroundcolor. The address preface 313 (e.g., “Deliver To”) might be given thesame color as the message 302 (FIG. 3) in the selected card. Therecipient's name 312 and address 313 might be the same for all displayedenvelopes 801, and might be a stock name and address or might be thename and address of one of the listed recipients 504 (FIG. 5) (such asthe first listed recipient). The server's selection of envelope colorsto match the card colors can result in the server selecting an envelopecolor to match a color that was user-selected for the card despite theuser not having had the envelope in mind when selecting the color forthe card. For example, the envelope's preface 313 may be assigned thecolor that the user selected for the card's background.

The image of the stamp 316, shown on each envelope 801 in the EnvelopeDisplay Screen 800, might be the stamp corresponding in the database 104to the selected card or may be the stamp corresponding in the database104 to the respective displayed envelope 801.

While the envelopes 801 are displayed, the user can apply changes to allenvelopes 801 simultaneously using a feature-modification section 850 ofthe Envelope Display Screen 800 as follows: The user can open a dropdownfeature-selection window 851 displaying a list of features (e.g., namecolor, preface color, background color). When the user selects one ofthe features, a feature-options dropdown menu 852 displays a list ofoptions relating to the selected feature for the user to choose from.For example, if the user selects the “Name” feature, the option list 852might be “Red”, “Green” and “Type a color here”. When an option isselected (such as selecting “Red” color for the “Name” feature), thatfeature changes in all the displayed envelopes 801 simultaneously (inthis example resulting in the recipient names in all envelopes changingto red). So, for example, if the name in a displayed envelope wasdisplayed with a first color, user-selection of a second color of “Red”will cause the name to be displayed in red in place of the first color.

The feature modification section 850 may include a color selectorcomprising squares 860 of different colors. Selecting a square 860changes each envelope's background color (e.g., paper stock color) tothe color of the selected square 860.

Before or after the envelope feature changes have been performed, theuser may drag the envelopes 801 to rearrange them on the array, whichchanges the positions of the envelopes 801 in the array. The user mayalso successively delete (eliminate) envelopes 801 from the array untilone last envelope is left. And even that one last envelope may bemodified by the user using the same image transformations and featurechanges explained above for the initial set and subset.

The user can select an envelope for purchase by selecting (e.g.,clicking on) the desired envelope from the array. Alternatively, theserver might consider a last envelope template remaining on the displayas the user-selected envelope.

The user might select an envelope template that leaves insufficient roomfor one or some of the name or addresses. For example, some names oraddresses might get too near to, or even overlap, an image on theenvelope. In such a situation, the GUI might display an oversized-textwarning (notification) of this fact to the user. The warning might state“Some lines of text on your address list might overlap ornamental imagesof the selected envelope.” This gives the user a chance to selectanother envelope template. The name-length warning might specify whichname or names or address or addresses are too long, thereby giving theuser a chance to revise the names or addresses to fit.

FIG. 9 shows a Card-Envelope Display Screen 900 of the GUI, with whichthe user can view, select, manipulate and modify the highest-rankingcard templates and their matching envelope templates (step 207 in FIG.2). This screen 900 displays each highest-ranking card template 701along with its matching envelope template 801. This screen 900 may bepresented in place of the Card Display Screen 700 (FIG. 7) and/or inplace of the Envelope Display Screen 800 (FIG. 8). This screen 900offers the advantage of providing more information about each displayedcard—by showing the matching envelope—than the Card Display Screen 800(of FIG. 8). But this screen 900 has the disadvantage that room taken upby the envelopes leaves less room for displaying cards. This screen 900might enable revising and manipulating each card as does the CardDisplay Screen 700 (FIG. 7), using the feature-modification tools 750,751, 752, 730, 731, 741, 742, 743 and 760 available in the Card DisplayScreen 700 (FIG. 7). The Screen 900 might include additional tools (notshown) for modifying features of the envelopes too. After the userselects one of the displayed card/envelope pairs, the Envelope DisplayScreen 800 (FIG. 8) might be opened. Screen 800 would enable the user toview other envelopes, alongside the matching envelope, that the usermight prefer over the matching envelope. Screen 800 would also enablethe user to modify and manipulate the envelopes and select the finalenvelope.

FIG. 10 shows an example Addressed-Envelope Preview Screen 1000 forpreviewing the addressed envelopes (step 208 in FIG. 2). This screen1000 includes an Address Entries window 503 (like that of FIG. 5). TheAddress Entries window 503 displays a scrollable list of the uploadedrecipient address entries 504. Each entry 504 includes at least onerecipient name 505 and a recipient address 506. Each time the userselects (e.g., clicks on) one of the entries 504, the Preview Window1000 displays a preview 1060 (image) of an envelope, with the selectedrecipient's address block 311 (comprising name and address) and the (thedatabase-designated) matching postage stamp 316. The preview includes afront view 1001, a closed-flap rear view 1001 and an opened-flap rearview 1002 of the envelope. This screen 1000 preview shows how the actualenvelope will appear to the recipient when the card arrives in the mail.

In preparation for each preview, the server might determine thatrecipient's name 312 or address 313 will overlap a design feature of theenvelope. The server might respond in any of the following ways: (1)letting the overlap occur; (2) displaying a oversize-text notification(e.g., stating “Text might overlap images”) next to an oversized name505 or oversized address 506 in the list 503, to enable the user tochange the name 505 or address 506 to avoid the overlap; (3) narrowingthe text of the oversized name 505 or oversized address 506 by using asmaller font size or a condensed version of the same font size; (4)adjusting the location of the address block 311 on the envelope 1001 toavoid the overlap (such as moving the address block 311 leftward toavoid an overlap at the right of the address block or moving itrightward to avoid an overlap at the left or downward to avoid anoverlap at the top or upward to avoid an overlap at the bottom); (5)splitting a line of text of the name 311 or address 312 into two lines(such as by printing “The Ferguson” on a top line and “Family” on thenext line, or by printing “100 Superior Ave” on one line and “Suite 300”on the next line); (6) select a shorter name from among the recipient'smultiple alternative names 355 (if the recipient entry includes multiplealternative names 355); (7) replacing terms (words) in the name oraddress with their abbreviations, such as by changing “and” to “&”,“Street” to “St”, “Suite” to “Ste” or “#”, and “New York” to “NY”. Theserver might be programmed with the ability to implement any of theabove seven approaches. The server might be further programmed todetermine, for the individual recipient entry at hand, which approach tofollow. This might result in different ones of the above sevenapproaches being applied to different recipients within the sameuploaded recipient list.

If a single recipient entry has multiple alternative names, the servermight decipher and analyze the alternative names to determine which oneis most appropriate for the type of card. For example, if one recipiententry has the three names “Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Smith”, “Joseph andJennifer Smith” and “The Smith Family”, the server might select theformal “Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Smith” if the card is a wedding invitation,and might select a less formal “Joseph and Jennifer Smith” for a babyshower invitation, and might select the family name “The Smith Family”for a Christmas card.

The user selects (e.g., clicks on) a “Submit Order” icon 1010 topurchase the selected card and envelopes.

FIG. 11 shows an Order Finalizing (Completion) Screen 1100 with whichthe user enters information for completing the order. This screen 1100has a Payment Information window 1101 through which the user providespayment (credit card) information. The screen 1100 has different iconsthrough which the user selects different options for preparing anddelivering the cards and envelopes. A Stuff Envelope option (icon 1111)is for the vendor to stuff each envelope with the purchased card. AnStamped Envelopes option (icon 1112) is for the vendor to stamp eachenvelope with the matching stamp that appeared on the GUI preview (FIG.10). A Mail option (icon 1113) is for the vendor to stuff each envelope(per the first option), stamp each envelope (per the second option) andmail each envelope to the respective recipient.

The Order Finalizing Screen 1100 includes icons 1120 that can beselected (e.g., clicked) for ordering items that are related to (match)the selected cards and imprinted with a design (motif) that matches adesign (motif) of the selected. If the cards are wedding invitations, anancillary item might be a set of table number cards to be placed ontables at a wedding. Other ancillary items are place cards and nametags. Each place card and each name tag is imprinted with acorresponding name from the uploaded recipient list. Each name isprinted on the place card and name tag with the same font as the namewas printed on the envelope, and along with the ornamentation 315 thatwas included in the selected envelope. Other ancillary items includeholiday photo cards, wedding invitations, wedding-save-the-date cards,birth announcements, escort cards, table-number cards, and personalizedwedding invitations. The cards and envelopes that have beenuser-selected and user-modified in one session can be stored forreference when imprinting ancillary items that are ordered in a latersession months later.

After the order is completed, a print facility of the vendor prints thecards (step 209 in FIG. 2) in one printing process step, by printing allof the card features (greeting 301, message 302, user-provided image set303 and ornamentation 305) on blank paper stock. This is in contrast toprinting the cards in two printing process steps—which would be by firstprinting only non-user-specified card features on blank card stock in afirst printing step, then inventorying the cards, and then printinguser-specified features in a second printing step. Each card is printedto match the appearance of the finalized (selected-and-modified) cardtemplate as displayed on the GUI screens (FIGS. 7 and 9).

The print facility also prints the envelopes, by printing all of theenvelope features (address block 311, address preface 314 and non-textornamentation 315) in one printing process step on blank envelope stock.This is in contrast to printing the envelopes in two printing processsteps—which would be by first printing the non-user-specified features(314, 315) on blank envelope stock in a first printing step, theninventorying the envelopes, and then printing the address block 311 in asecond printing step. The envelope is printed to match the appearance ofthe finalized (selected and -modified) envelope template as displayed onthe GUI screens (FIGS. 8-10).

If the Stuff Envelope option 1111 was selected, then the vendor's printfacility stuffs each purchased envelope with one of the purchased cards.

If the Stamped Envelopes option 1112 was selected, then the printfacility stamps each envelope with the matching stamp. This can be doneby affixing (adhering) the matching paper stamp on each envelope. Or byimprinting (with ink) the envelope with the matching stamp.

If the Mail option 1113 was selected, then the print facility (i) stuffsthe envelopes with the selected card, (ii) stamps the envelopes with thematching stamp, and (iii) mails the stuffed-and-stamped envelopes to therecipients.

If none of the options 1111, 1112, 1113 (FIG. 11) was selected, then thevendor ships (delivers) the cards and envelopes to the user. The usermust then insert (stuff) each card into an envelope, affix (adhere) apostage stamp to the envelope, and drop off the stuffed-and-stampedenvelopes at a post office for delivery to the recipients.

When preparing the paper envelopes, the server can convert the addressblocks into a pre-press PDF file and then print the custom file on theenvelopes. These envelopes might accompany stationery products such asholiday photo cards, birth announcements and other customizable cardsthat customers might send out via mail to recipients. Customers mightchoose from a range of envelope design options online and leverage themerchant's capability to dynamically insert their personal data intotheir selected design template. The server might automatically generatea customized file that is print onto the envelopes. A web-to-printsystem applies the customer's selections to a design template usingcustom scripts and actions that manipulate Adobe Illustrator to generatea multi-page PDF for print. This PDF is sent to the printing facilityusing XML and then printed onto envelopes and sent to the customer.

The components and procedures described above provide examples ofelements recited in the claims. They also provide examples of how aperson of ordinary skill in the art can make and use the claimedinvention. They are described here to provide enablement and best modewithout imposing limitations that are not recited in the claims. In someinstances in the above description, a term is followed by an alternativesubstantially equivalent term enclosed in parentheses.

1. A method for manufacturing envelopes, the method comprising: storing,in a database, different card templates, wherein each of the cardtemplates has a card feature that can have any color from among a firstset of colors; storing, in the database, for each stored card template,a corresponding envelope template, wherein each stored envelope templateis associated with a format of a physical envelope and has an envelopefeature that can have any color from among a second set of colors;receiving, by a server through a graphical user interface (GUI) on auser computing device, a user selection of a card template from amongthe card templates; receiving, by the server through the GUI on the usercomputing device, a user selection of a color to be applied to the cardfeature of the selected card template; displaying, by the GUI on theuser computing device, the user-selected card template; rendering, bythe server through the GUI on the user computing device, the cardfeature of the displayed card template with the user-selected color;selecting, by the server, the envelope template that corresponds, in thedatabase, to the user-selected card template; displaying, by the GUI onthe user computing device, the envelope template selected by the serveras corresponding, in the database, to the user-selected card template;rendering, by the server through the GUI on the user computing device,on the displayed envelope template, the envelope feature of thedisplayed envelope template with the color that was user-selected forthe card feature; receiving, by the server through the GUI on the usercomputing device, a user selection of a card and an envelope thatrespectively match the selected card template and the correspondingenvelope template; and generating, by the server, print file data forprinting the envelope (i) with the envelope template that corresponds inthe database to the user-selected card template and (ii) with theenvelope feature having the color that was user-selected for the cardfeature.
 2. The method of claim 1, wherein the method further comprisesreceiving a user-provided recipient name and a correspondinguser-provided recipient address; and wherein the displaying of thecorresponding envelope template includes displaying, on thecorresponding envelope template, an address block that includes theuser-provided recipient name and the user-provided recipient address. 3.The method of claim 2, wherein the envelope feature is the displayedrecipient name.
 4. The method of claim 2, wherein the displayed envelopetemplate includes non-text ornamentation.
 5. The method of claim 4,further comprising: determining that the address block will overlap thenon-text ornamentation; and in response to determining that the addressblock will overlap the non-text ornamentation, avoiding the overlap byadjusting a size of the address block or by adjusting a location of theaddress block on the envelope.
 6. The method of claim 4, furthercomprising: determining that the address block will overlap the non-textornamentation; and in response to determining that the address blockwill overlap the non-text ornamentation, avoiding the overlap bysplitting a line of text of address block into two lines.
 7. The methodof claim 2, further comprising: storing, in the database, for eachenvelope template, a stamp identifier that specifies a postage stampthat corresponds to the respective envelope template; printing theaddress block on an envelope corresponding to the user-selected envelopetemplate; and affixing the corresponding stamp to the envelope.
 8. Themethod of claim 1, further comprising: receiving, by the server throughthe GUI on the user computing device, a user selection of a font styleto be applied to the card feature of the selected card template; andrendering, by the server through the GUI on the user computing device,on the displayed envelope template, the envelope feature of thedisplayed envelope template with the font style that was user-selectedfor the card feature; wherein the generated print file data for printingthe envelope further includes the envelope feature having the font stylethat was user-selected for the card feature.
 9. The method of claim 1,wherein, the user-selected card template includes a font style, and thegenerated print file data for printing the envelope further includes theenvelope feature having the font style included in the user-selectedcard template.
 10. The method of claim 2, wherein, the user-selectedcard template includes a font style, and the address block displayed onthe corresponding envelope template includes the font style of theuser-selected card template.
 11. A system for manufacturing envelopes,the system comprising: a hardware database that stores: different cardtemplates, wherein each of the card templates has a card feature thatcan have any color from among a first set of colors, for each storedcard template, a corresponding envelope template, wherein each storedenvelope template is associated with a format of a physical envelope andhas an envelope feature that can have any color from among a second setof colors; a hardware server configured to: provide a graphical userinterface, on a user computing device, that is configured to: receive auser selection of a card template from among the card templates, receivea user selection of a color to be applied to the card feature of theselected card template, display the user-selected card template,rendering the card feature of the displayed card template with theuser-selected color; display the envelope template that corresponds, inthe database, to the user-selected card template render, on thedisplayed envelope template, the envelope feature of the displayedenvelope template with the color that was user-selected for the cardfeature, and receiving a user selection of a card and an envelope thatrespectively match the selected card template and the correspondingenvelope template; and generate print file data for printing theenvelope (i) with the envelope template that corresponds in the databaseto the user-selected card template and (ii) with the envelope featurehaving the color that was user-selected for the card feature.
 12. Thesystem of claim 11, wherein the graphical user interface is furtherconfigured to, receive a user-provided recipient name and acorresponding user-provided recipient address, and display, on thecorresponding envelope template, an address block that includes theuser-provided recipient name and the user-provided recipient address.13. The system of claim 12, wherein the envelope feature is thedisplayed recipient name.
 14. The system of claim 12, wherein thedisplayed envelope template includes non-text ornamentation.
 15. Thesystem of claim 14, wherein the graphical user interface is furtherconfigured to: determine that the address block will overlap thenon-text ornamentation when printed on the envelope; and in response todetermining that the address block will overlap the non-textornamentation, avoiding the overlap by adjusting a size of the addressblock or by adjusting a location of the address block on the envelope.16. The system of claim 14, wherein the graphical user interface isfurther configured to: determine that the address block will overlap thenon-text ornamentation when printed on the envelope; and in response todetermining that the address block will overlap the non-textornamentation, avoiding the overlap by splitting a line of text ofaddress block into two lines.
 17. The system of claim 12, wherein: thehardware database stores, for each envelope template, a stamp identifierthat specifies a postage stamp that corresponds to the respectiveenvelope template; the hardware server being further configured to cause(i) the address block to be printed on an envelope corresponding to theuser-selected envelope template, and (ii) the corresponding stamp to beaffixed to the envelope.
 18. The system of claim 11, wherein thegraphical user interface is further configured to, receive a userselection of a font style to be applied to the card feature of theselected card template, and rendering on the displayed envelopetemplate, the envelope feature of the displayed envelope template withthe font style that was user-selected for the card feature, wherein thegenerated print file data for printing the envelope further includes theenvelope feature having the font style that was user-selected for thecard feature.
 19. The system of claim 11, wherein, the user-selectedcard template includes a font style, and the generated print file datafor printing the envelope further includes the envelope feature havingthe font style included in the user-selected card template.
 20. Thesystem of claim 12, wherein, the user-selected card template includes afont style, and the address block displayed on the correspondingenvelope template includes the font style of the user-selected cardtemplate.